Weather roller coaster to continue

January 28, 2013

EAST LIVERPOOL-After last weeks chilly temperatures, snow accumulation and slick roads, many residents of Columbiana County feel like they could use a change in the weather. Residents will get the change in the weather they have been waiting for, but it is likely to bring with it dangerous driving conditions for the beginning of the work week. The National Weather Service Pittsburgh has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the county effective early this morning and continuing until 1 p.m. today.

Meteorologist Charlie Woodrum with the National Weather Service in Pittsburgh warned that a warm front moving into the area will bring freezing rain and a wintery mix that could make for a treacherous commute for motorist heading back to the workplace.

"The biggest issues for your area are going to be over night and through the early morning hours through dawn," said Woodrum.

"I think there's a possibility the morning commute could be impacted by this potential ice accumulation."

The area could be looking at 1/10 to 2/10 of an inch of ice accumulation according to Woodrum. While that may seem like a negligible amount of ice to some, Woodrum warned that it does not take much ice to wreak havoc on the roadway. "Really, it only takes a good few hundredths of an inch of freezing rain to get a light ice coating," said Woodrum. "You guys (Columbiana County) are anticipating even more than that, so a 1/10 or 2/10s would be enough to coat most surfaces especially those that are untreated."

Freezing rain is expected to change over to rain as the day progresses today and temperatures are forecast to rise into the mid 40's. Warmer temperatures will hang around into the middle of the week, peaking at a high of 54 degrees on Wednesday.

Woodrum advised that the warm front responsible for the temperature increase will hang around for a day or two mid week. "That warm front that's going to be pushing into our area is going to bring a lot of warm air above the surface," said Woodrum. Temperatures in the mid fifties will feel practically tropical to county residents used to lows in the teens, however, the warm front is expected to make its way out of the area towards week's end, with temperatures sinking back into the low teens by Friday.